Flood Crest Passes Safely

August 14, 1998

BEIJING — Officials called off plans to blast levees and flood the homes and fields of up to 330,000 residents Thursday after the fifth flood crest this summer safely passed a crucial stretch of the Yangtze River.

The flood crest hit Shashi in central Hubei province at 147 feet, 8 inches below the level that would have required levees to be blasted.

Residents in areas due to be flooded have protested plans to divert water to protect the industrial center of Wuhan, with a population of 7 million.

More than 2,000 people have been killed and millions have been left homeless in the worst floods in 44 years.